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As the man who hates us watches, craving to snatch Isla for himself and do to her whatever he pleases because he cannot forgive us.
Well.
He should be careful.
As she is no longer Isla Evans, his only surviving victim.
She’s a Reed.
And no one fucks with a Reed.
No one who wants to live anyway.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“All monsters have their beginnings.
Mine are so hideous and painful it’s a wonder I survived them.”
Octavius
Octavius, 5 years old
“We’re here,” our driver announces, making me jump on my seat and grip the stuffed bear in my hands tighter. “Be careful!” he yells just as I open the door and get outside while Antonio exits the car, running toward me.
“Octavius, please slow down,” he says, but I just roll my eyes, almost clapping at the sight of my family home, and quickly race up the stairs, passing by the gaping maid in a blur with my butler hot on my heels.
“Keep up!” I shout at him, my shoes tapping soundly on the perfectly polished marble as I rush toward my mom’s room and finally stop in front of it, gulping for air.
Here it comes!
I knock three times and press my ear to the door, waiting for a reply as I hold my breath.
I hear a soft, “Come in.” I grip the handle and enter, the sunlight shining brightly through the huge window in my parents' room, basking it in peacefulness and magical energy, instantly calming me.
Refusing to pay attention to anything else, I focus on the bed where my mom lies, propping her back against the headboard and holding a baby in her arms in the pink blanket.
Not any baby.
My little sister!
Happiness flashes on her face. “Come here, my sweet boy.” Warmth slides through me at my mama’s voice. I haven’t seen her since three days ago when she was rushed to the hospital to deliver the baby. She was in pain and screaming.
Daddy, or Wayne, who everyone says is really my cousin since my biological father was his uncle, joined her in the hospital, and he’d come to the house when I was already asleep. So I was very anxious waiting for this moment. Antonio even allowed me to eat ice cream while watching cartoons to pass the time because I cried or sighed in boredom otherwise.
“Mama! You’re here!” I come closer to her, showing off the pink stuffed bear. “I bought this for her.” Well, technically, Florian bought it because he always has money in his pockets, but it still counts.
“How nice.” She takes it with her free hand and puts it away, tightening her hold on the baby and shifting so I can see. “Meet your little sister, darling. Estella.”
She’s stunning!
She blinks at me several times, her flawless skin almost porcelain, and she has red hair, while her eyes curiously look at me.
A weird emotion fills me.
Something I’ve never felt before, and without thinking, I touch her small hand and gasp when she wraps her palm around my finger. She has quite a grip! “Hi. I’m Octavius,” I tell her, earning myself a blink. “I’m your big brother.” She fusses a little, her lips moving in a sucking motion, and she blinks again. “She’s so tiny,” I whisper and frown, thinking how fragile she seems compared to all the other kids I’ve seen.
What if anyone hurts her? What if anyone makes fun of her? What if someone makes her cry?
